New DIY Gravity-fed Fuge setup

[clipper]

Please let me know your thoughts

Settling before adding algae's

4.5" deep sand bed- was in a battle whether or not to use mud or sand, went with deep sand bed

Gravity-fed return for the fuge to DT

 

[clipper]

If anyone has any questions regarding setup & benefit of gravity fed systems let me know

 

[zachts]

Nice, I wish my sump/fuge was viewable without opening the cabinet. some realy cool critters live in there, including red fan worms, tons of sponges and turnicates and all sorts of bivalves and micro stars! and that's just the tip of the ice burg if you will.....
....remote display fuges are awesome IMO.

 

[zachts]

....great place to house cool tings like tube anemones....wish I still had mine but sold it when I moved here because I was without a sump for a while, plan to get another eventually.

 

[clipper]

Def look into the diy gravity fed option for your filtration / fuge - it is so much nicer & easier to deal with - plus allows the water to move more naturally through the return

I just realized how much tube nem's look like feather dusters, they are not the same right? because I already have a giant XL feather duster in my display tank - I wasn't planning on putting much in the fuge except a few invertebrates & the little sand sifting starfish I have in there at the moment - Ill get a new pic up today with all the Chaeto in the fuge

 

[dryworm]

If you are using your deep sand bed for filtration. A sand sifting starfish is not a good idea. It will eat all the beneficial fauna in the sand.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2279543

 

[zachts]

If you are using your deep sand bed for filtration. A sand sifting starfish is not a good idea. It will eat all the beneficial fauna in the sand.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2279543

I think he meant the tiny micro stars, that will end up in there one way or another. They eat detritis and yes some bacteria and other stuff in the sand but only sift in the upper layer of the sand.

Tube nems are a much differnt animal than feather duster worms. You have to feed the nem though but they are supper easy to care for and will eat just about anything. Of course they will also enjoy snacking on all the little critters that take up residence in the fuge, but such is the cycle of life. They will readily snack on small fish and shrimp so not good in a display.

A few of my favorite variations:

 

[flounderfish]

What kind of algae are you thinking? *Just don't want the drain to clog. Teeth on a overflow help with that "filter" of algae floating around.

 

[clipper]

If you are using your deep sand bed for filtration. A sand sifting starfish is not a good idea. It will eat all the beneficial fauna in the sand.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2279543

Thank you for the heads up dryworm!!

I think he meant the tiny micro stars, that will end up in there one way or another. They eat detritis and yes some bacteria and other stuff in the sand but only sift in the upper layer of the sand.

And Zach i was indeed talking about the larger variety - so do you also think like dryworm that I should get him out of the fuge? I appreciate your guys feedback on this because i dont have room for him in my display so I can just trade him in for something else at LFS no problem if so


Tube nems are a much differnt animal than feather duster worms. You have to feed the nem though but they are supper easy to care for and will eat just about anything. Of course they will also enjoy snacking on all the little critters that take up residence in the fuge, but such is the cycle of life. They will readily snack on small fish and shrimp so not good in a display.

A few of my favorite variations:

man,,,these are absolutely gorgeous!!! I am going to keep an eye out for them at the LFS!!

What kind of algae are you thinking? *Just don't want the drain to clog. Teeth on a overflow help with that "filter" of algae floating around.

right now i am just running chaeto (sp? lol) but plan on getting some red dragon, maybe some mangroves, etc - the return valve getting clogged issue has been thought of & taken care of with a custom sponge intake which leave 0% chance of escape for the non essential elements/algae I had to learn that the hard way with my first DIY hang on the back setup

I cant thank you guys enough for the feedback - much appreciated & all duley noted!!

 

[zachts]

I concur with dryworm, trade in the sand sifting star. Your tank isn't nearly large enough for it to live long anyway. Not to mention it will do it's best to keep the sand bed devoid of other life until it starves.

 

[clipper]

I concur with dryworm, trade in the sand sifting star. Your tank isn't nearly large enough for it to live long anyway. Not to mention it will do it's best to keep the sand bed devoid of other life until it starves.

Taking him back tmr Can't thank you enough guys

- I am recently running into an issue w/ the fuge randomly overflowing itself somehow - even with a literal trickle of water coming into it and the tube being more than large enough for the feed to initiate and maintain a balance. If I put anything over the return stem inside the refuge (which is going straight back into my DT after fuge) such as filter pad or filter sick of any kind/thickness that it severely compromises the fuges stability and it will eventually seem to get backed up due to the pad and ultimately overflow (yikes)
so - any thoughts? whenever I remove the filter pad it stays level and constant flow - but there is no way that the flow can be obstructed that much for it not to drain and remain level in the tank by now...

ill post better pics soon - waiting for the mini cycle to finish in the tank right meow

 

[baitrunner]

If anyone has any questions regarding setup & benefit of gravity fed systems let me know

Just ran across your post and I could use some help -> http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2465149

 

[JSimpson]

How is your drain/overflow from the fuge to main tank setup? Can't tell from the photos if the tank is drilled or has an overflow.